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IRA Events

Upcoming Webinars

Rural Clean Energy Federal Funding Fairs - Additional Funding Opportunities for Clean Energy Projects

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development is hosting our next federal funding fair on April 9, 2024!

Rural Development recognizes that clean energy support for rural communities is in high demand and is hosting a series of federal funding fairs for entities interested in building clean energy that supports rural communities. Each interagency rural clean energy federal funding fair webinar will feature a presenter who will speak about a current federal funding opportunity for clean energy projects in rural America and provide more information about program benefits and eligibility.

For our next webinar, presenters will come from U.S. Department of Treasury to talk about Elective Pay/Direct Pay benefits and U.S. Department of Energy’s Grid Deployment Office as well as representatives from the USDA who will talk more about USDA Rural Development’s Rural Energy for America (REAP) program and Rural Utilities Services (RUS) Electric program. Each session will focus on different programs, with the second rural clean energy federal funding fair webinar covering the following topics. Please register by selecting the linked sessions below:

Tuesday, April 9, 2024, 2:00pm – 3:00pm EST:

  • U.S. Dept. of Treasury will present on the Direct Pay/Elective Pay credit delivery mechanism: designed to help rural electric cooperatives and other entities gain access to clean energy tax credits for clean energy deployment

Tuesday, April 9, 2024, 4:00pm – 5:00pm EST:

  • U.S. Dept. of Energy’s Grid Deployment Office will present on its federal funding opportunities to strengthen and modernize the electric grid, highlighting where and how rural communities can apply for grid resilience funding. This includes the Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grant Program and the Grid Resilience Innovation and Partnerships Program (GRIP), as well as the Transmission Facilitation Program (TFP), Transmission Siting and Economic Development (TSED) program, and the Hydroelectric Incentives Program.
  • USDA will present on Rural Utilities Services (RUS) Electric programs for medium and large utility-scale clean energy projects that serve rural communities and Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS) Rural Energy for America (REAP) program for small-scale clean energy projects for rural small businesses and agricultural producers.

USDA has also developed Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) pocket guides to help applicants navigate the suite of programs that were recently developed for clean energy projects in rural America across multiple agencies. You will notice that the funding fairs will discuss some of the programs featured on our IRA guides. One of the guides is sorted by common eligible uses and the other across common eligible applicant groups: IRA Pocket Guides | Rural Development (usda.gov).

    Past Webinars

    Rural Clean Energy Federal Funding Fair (REAP, RUS, ERA, Direct Pay) 

    New ERA Office Hours

      Investing in America: REAP IRA Technical Assistance Update

      • Description: This announcement will be most valuable for those who engage in, or seek to engage in, technical assistance for applicants to the REAP program funded by the Inflation Reduction Act.
      • When: July 13 | Webinar Recording

      Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) Overview and Enrollment Orientation

      RUS IRA Cross Agency Rural Clean Energy Funding Opportunity Webinar

      Office Hours for USDA PACE and New ERA Programs

      New ERA Program and Greenhouse Gas Calculator Overview 

      • Description: RUS staff will provide a detailed overview on the requirements for submitting a Letter of Interest (LOI) for New ERA. In addition to LOI requirements, instructions for completing the Greenhouse Gas reduction worksheet will be included. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions about the funding requirements and process.
      • When: June 8 | Webinar Recording

      USDA PACE Program and Eligibility Mapping Overview

      • Description: RUS staff will provide a detailed overview on the requirements for submitting a Letter of Interest (LOI) for PACE. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions about the funding requirements and process.
      • When: June 6 | Webinar

      Overview of funding available through IRA

      • Description: RUS will provide background on the NOFOs for PACE and New ERA that were published in the Federal Register on May 16, 2023. RUS will also provide a brief overview of how these programs compare to other federal clean energy programs in rural America.
      • When: May 22 Webinar | May 24 Webinar | May 31 Webinar | June 1 Webinar 

      RUS update on IRA funding

      • Description: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) will provide general background information on the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for both its Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) program under Section 22001 and New Empowering Rural America (New ERA) program under Section 22004 of the IRA. 
      • When: May 17 Webinar

      Updates on funding available under the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) after the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

      • When: April 4, 2023, at 2:30 p.m. ET IRA REAP Training Webinar.

      RBCS-REAP Stakeholder Call 

      • Description: Join USDA Rural Development for a stakeholder call for an update on the implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Information, including funding availability, IRA-specific program changes, and links to Federal Register funding notices will be provided.
      • When: February 1, 2023 | Event Recording 

      USDA’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) IRA Roundtable - Electrical Generation & Transmission entities in RUS Region 1

      • Description: RUS is hosting virtual roundtable discussions for the IRA of 2022. This session is aimed at Electrical Generation & Transmission entities in RUS Region 1 and allows the opportunity for direct roundtable discussions with RUS.
      • When: Tuesday, January 17, 2023 | 10:00 a.m. EST

      USDA’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) IRA Roundtable - Rural Mayors

      • Description: RUS is hosting virtual roundtable discussions for the IRA of 2022. This session is aimed at rural mayors and will allow the opportunity for direct roundtable discussions with RUS.
      • When: Tuesday, January 17, 2023 | 4:00 p.m. EST

      USDA’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) IRA Roundtable - Labor Stakeholders

      • Description: RUS is hosting virtual roundtable discussions for the IRA of 2022. This session is aimed at labor stakeholders and allows the opportunity for direct roundtable discussions with RUS.
      • When: Wednesday, January 18, 2023 | 10:00 a.m. EST

      USDA’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) IRA Roundtable - Environmental Stakeholders

      • Description: RUS is hosting virtual roundtable discussions for the IRA of 2022. This session is aimed at environmental stakeholders and allows the opportunity for direct roundtable discussions with RUS.
      • When: Wednesday, January 18, 2023 | 3:00 p.m. EST

      USDA’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) Roundtable - Clean Energy Stakeholders

      • Description: RUS is hosting virtual roundtable discussions for the IRA of 2022. This session is aimed at clean energy stakeholders and allows the opportunity for direct roundtable discussions with RUS.
      • When: Thursday, January 19, 2023 | 3:00 p.m. EST

      USDA’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) IRA Roundtable - Distribution Cooperatives in RUS Region 1

      • Description: RUS is hosting virtual roundtable discussions for the IRA of 2022. This session is aimed at distribution cooperatives in RUS Region 1 and allows the opportunity for direct roundtable discussions with RUS.
      • When: Friday, January 20, 2023 | 11:00 a.m. EST

      USDA’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) IRA Roundtable - Region 2 G&T Entities

      • Description: RUS is hosting virtual roundtable discussions for the IRA of 2022. This session is aimed at Electrical Generation & Transmission entities in RUS Region 2 and allows the opportunity for direct roundtable discussions with RUS.
      • When: Friday, January 20, 2023 | 3:30 p.m. EST

      USDA’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) IRA Roundtable - Engineers

      • Description: RUS is hosting virtual roundtable discussions for the IRA of 2022. This session is aimed at engineers in RUS and allows the opportunity for direct roundtable discussions with RUS.
      • When: Monday, January 23, 2023 | 11:00 a.m. EST

      USDA’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) IRA Roundtable - Region 3 G&T Entities

      • Description: RUS is hosting virtual roundtable discussions for the IRA of 2022. This session is aimed at Electrical Generation & Transmission entities in Region 3 and allows the opportunity for direct roundtable discussions with RUS.
      • When: Monday, January 23, 2023 | 3:00 p.m. EST

      USDA’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) IRA Roundtable - Distribution Cooperatives in RUS Region 2

      • Description: RUS is hosting virtual roundtable discussions for the IRA of 2022. This session is aimed at Distribution Cooperatives in RUS Region 2 and allows the opportunity for direct roundtable discussions with RUS.
      • When: Tuesday, January 24, 2023 | 11:00 a.m. EST

      USDA’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) IRA Roundtable - Tribes, Tribal Utilities and Tribal Entities

      • Description: RUS is hosting virtual roundtable discussions for the IRA of 2022. This session is aimed at promoting renewable energy development in tribal communities and allows the opportunity for direct roundtable discussions with RUS.
      • When: Tuesday, January 24, 2023 | 3:00 p.m. EST

      USDA’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) IRA Roundtable - Equity Stakeholders

      • Description: RUS is hosting virtual roundtable discussions for the IRA of 2022. This session is aimed at equity stakeholders and allows the opportunity for direct roundtable discussions with RUS.
      • When: Wednesday, January 25, 2023 | 1:00 p.m. EST

      USDA’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) IRA Roundtable - Region 3 Distribution Cooperatives

      • Description: RUS is hosting virtual roundtable discussions for the IRA of 2022. This session is aimed at Distribution Cooperatives in RUS Region 3 and allows the opportunity for direct roundtable discussions with RUS.
      • When: Thursday, January 26, 2023 | 4:00 p.m. EST